Although Lithuania does not have fighter jets and bombers, Lithuanian troops and representatives of other NATO countries will train to destroy ground targets from air in this area as of September. It will be only such training area in the Baltic states.
Defense experts say this area is important for bolstering air defense and protecting the so-called Suwalki Corridor, a strip of the Lithuanian-Polish border, considered NATO’s Achilles Heel.
Following the installation of the NATO-standard aviation shooting range near Kazlų Rūda, training will take place here on ways aviation might assist land forces during battles.
The Kazlų Rūda training area is one of the busiest in the country as several thousand NATO troops undergo training here every week.
American army experts had proposed installing an aviation shooting range in Lithuania three years ago after inspecting all training area in the country.